Anouchka van Miltenburg: Vice-President of the House of Representatives, Netherlands

Whereas more people than ever live in democracies, more people than ever are deeply disappointed by the problem-solving ability of democracy and politics. The gap between voters and their representatives is much smaller these days than a few decades ago, which is due to the media in particular. Yet, many of our citizens are turning away [...]

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Ene Ergma: Speaker, Riigikogu, Estonia

Internet has given politicians a channel to transmit directly unmediated information. As a result, citizens have been given the opportunity to participate in different stages of the decision-shaping process, allowing influence on the outcome… Virtual politics and social communication are still insufficient to replace traditional communication based on face-to-face social networking. Despite fast development and [...]

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Josep Dallères Codina: Speaker, General Council, Andorra

The world is changing constantly. That institutions should fail to bear this in mind is unthinkable if they wish to continue be effective. That we be more or less favourable to this trend and although the role of national parliaments remains local, no one can deny the need, in particular for political leaders–and thus, for [...]

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Marios Garoyian: President, House of Representatives, Cyprus

The key question that arises involves the types and practices of democratic accountability that are appropriate on the world scale. Which entities should be held accountable and to whom? Contrary to popular belief, weak states and intergovernmental organizations are amongst the most accountable actors, whereas multinational corporations, terrorist networks and even powerful states are amongst [...]

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Pavel Gantar: President, National Assembly, Slovenia

We are faced with an energy crisis, an environmental crisis, the crisis of relations between the developed and less developed world, we bear witness to the crisis of the predominant economic and political system which solely builds upon the functioning of the capital market. This is a crisis which consequently leads to a crisis of [...]

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Roberta Alma Anastase: Speaker, Chamber of Deputies, Romania

A financial crisis has become an economic one, and our countries and our democracies face unique challenges. We must ask ourselves “where do parliaments and national representatives stand in this situation? How can we preserve and promote accountability”… We can, and we must, make sure that governments implement needed policies to tackle the crisis, as [...]

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Barbara Prammer: Speaker, National Council, Austria

All who are assembled today have the responsibility to promote human rights at home in our own countries.  Without credible efforts in this respect by those who speak in our midst, all the nice speeches on human rights and women’s rights, on development, peace and democracy must be judged as empty talk. 

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Bernard Accoyer, President, National Assembly, France

Years ago, the National Assembly was known as a house without windows because of its lack of openness towards the outside world. However, like those who have preceded me, I aim to turn it into a glass house where my fellow citizens can peer deep into the arcane workings of the law factory.

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Erika Forster-Vannini: President, Council of States, Switzerland

Progress [in achieving MDGs 4 and 5] would not be possible without the many initiatives that come from outside political circles. They are of enormous value to us as parliamentary presidents. They open our eyes and we should give them every encouragement. I am confident that the UN Secretary General’s joint plan of action will create a [...]

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Gordana Čomić: Deputy Speaker, National Assembly, Serbia

Participation and education must be viewed not only as an emancipation indicator or a goal but also as an instrument in fighting stereotypes.

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Jozefina Topalli: Speaker, Parliament, Albania

Violence against women is not just a woman’s issue, is it ? … The fact that we were elected at the head of parliaments has given us the opportunity to speak also for the ones that keep silent. The bridge of communication with all male Speakers of parliament is important… All of us must powerfully react [...]

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Pascale Bruderer: President, National Council, Switzerland

The network of female parliamentary presidents is a powerful lever that can be used to force politicians to act. We are among the leaders of this common plan of action and we must do what we can to ensure that the required budgets and the health of women and children are given priority. Through our actions [...]

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